Burglar-alarm.



No. 664,865. Patented 1511.1, 19m. .1. H. HOWARD.

BURGLAR ALARM.

(Application filed Oct. 5, 1899.)

(No Model.) I I IIIIIIIIIW J; 27gb? 4 TMZ NORRIS pzT Rs co. PHO7Q-LHHO.. WASNKNOTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

JAMES H. HOIVARD, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOWARD ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BURGLAR-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,865, dated January 1, 190i. Application filed October 5, 1899. Serial No. 732,674. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LJAMEs H. HowARD,a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have in vented a certain new and useful Burglar-Alarm, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanical circuitclosers, and has for its object to provide a device of the kind described adapted to close a circuit by contact caused by a person treading thereon.

\Vith this object in View my invention con sists in providing two longitudinal conducting-strips, interposing a strip of non-conducting material between them, and securing two disks or contact-plates on opposite sides of the non-conducting material and between the two conducting-strips.

My invention further consists in certain details of construction and peculiar combinations of parts, all of which will be fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my invention applied. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my invention, the cover being removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the same. L ig. 4 is a transverse sec tion taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, and Fig.

5 is a slight modification of the contact-disks.

Referring now to the drawings by reference numerals, l0 and 11 designate two elongated strips of copper, brass, or other material, such as may be found convenient for use as a conducting medium, between which are secured two contact disks or plates 12 and 13. Inter-posed between these disks and running longitudinally the strips 10 and 11 their entire length is a strip let. of non-conducting material, so as to space the two disks apart and at the same time insulate the strips 10 and 11. Intermediate the several sets of disks the strips are secured together by means of first Wrapping a piece of insulating material 15 around them and then fastening on a sleeve 16, of metal or other suitable material. To the ends of strips 10 and 11 or at some other convenient point a negative and positive wire 17 and 18, respectively, will be secured, the free ends of which will be adapted to connect with the binding-post of an alarni; such as a bell or an electrically-operated gun; By SQCJ ring the plates and strips together in this manner the plates will project laterally beyond the strips parallel with each other normally out of contact; but whenever pressure is applied to the projecting portions upon either side of the strips the plates will be forced into contact and the circuit will be closed and the signal given. As soon as the pressure is removed from the mat the resiliency of the disks or plates will cause them to instantly resume their normal positions, thereby breaking the circuit. In this manner the use of springs, elastic or compressible material, as rubber, dad, is avoided and the device is much more durable and simple.

Over the whole device will be placed a waterproof covering 19, as clearly seen in Fig. l and shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a slight modification in which the disks are spaced apart by a series of radiating insulating-pieces 20, so that said disks can only be brought together when pressure is applied. A waterproof covering is also provided for this construction.

In actual practice this device will be placed under rugs, carpets, outhouses, or, in fact, anywhere it is desired to locate an automatic circuit-closer.

What I claim particularly as the novel feature of my invention is the peculiar arrangement of the contact-disks.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an exceedingly simple, durable, and efficient device of the kind described, and while I have described and illustrated what to me at this time appears to be the very best means of accomplishing the desired result I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction shown, but hold that such slight changes and variations as might suggest themselves to the ordinary mechanic may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is

1. In a circuit-closer, the combination with two longitiidinally arranged conductingstrips, parallel resilient contact-plates held two longitudinal strips of conducting material, of two resilient contact-disks secured between said strips and normally insulated apart, the edges of said disks upon the opposite sides of the insulation being adapted to be forced into contact, and sleeves secured to said strips intermediate the above-mentioned disks for holding the parts in operative engagement, substantially as described.

JAMES H. HOlNARD.

Witnesses:

JAMES SULLIVAN, H. L. PERSHING. 

